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Thanks very much Andy. The problem comes when you are a humble brush modeller. My modelling is done on the kitchen table, so air brushes are a non starter. I remember my youthful efforts with Humbrol 11 never seemed to dry....!!

Can I ask what NMF you have used?? I have a few ALDI starter P51's but have not had the courage to have a go with them yet due to concerns over NMF...…... Thanks for any advice...……. Martyn

As per my reply to PhantomBigStu, I'm a Humbrol enamels and brush man. To late for me to start trying these new fangled airbrush things...particularly as my modelling is all done at the kitchen table!! Thanks for the info! Martyn

That's handy, as Humbrol is my preferred brand of paint. This reveals my beginnings in modelling in the 1970's.....Humbrol enamels and a brush!! Many thanks Martyn

OK so reverting to maybe an E-3 in the air war over France pre Dunkirk....which fits with my other interest in No.1 squadron RAF at the same era. My Airfix E-3 gives upper camo with Humbrols 117 and 31....is this anywhere near correct?? Would welcome some advice as to whether this is correct...…... Thanks in advance Martyn

Having made my annual purchase from Aldi of Airfix starter kits I find myself with two E-3's (and a Tomahawk). The colour scheme for the E-3 is a bit dull, but I guess that's because they can't fit that many little paint pots in the box!! There seems to be no shortage of more colourful schemes having checked out other sets of markings from Hannants. What takes my fancy is a desert scheme, prompted by the iconic photo of an E over the desert which seems to be in every book I've looked at!! So some questions arise which I hope those more knowledgeable about the 109 might be able to answer: - Were E-3's used in the desert, or had they been superseded by later models? - Are there any obvious external differences between the E-3 and E-4/E-7?? - I've got a drawing of an E4/B in desert camo, but with no tropical filter - is this correct? - I've tried looking on Hannants website, but there doesn't seem to be an aftermarket tropical filter available?? Are there any other sources?? Any help gratefully received.... Thanks Martyn

Phew!! Was it really that long ago!! Many thanks for finding the article. It means my recent purchase from Aldi of an E-3 will be my first 109 in 47 years!! Thanks Wulfman Rgds Martyn

Lovely looking model!! This has prompted a distant memory, as I seem to recall converting an old Airfix G-6 to a nightfighter from an article in the Airfix Magazine - probably mid 70's. I have a feeling this was fitted with an upward firing Schrage Musik type cannon, but I may be completely wrong!! Any oldies out there remember this...….. Rgds Martyn

Although it covers the period before the Battle of Britain, Paul Richey's "Fighter Pilot" is an excellent book. I have a much treasured 1941 edition of this book inherited from my grandfather. To slightly go off message, he also left me a copy of "Low Attack" by John Wooldridge, which is a brilliant book about the first two squadrons to use the Mosquito as a low level bomber - 105 and 139.

I've returned to modelling after a long break, and - thanks to ALDI - now have a P51D to build courtesy of Santa. What is the best NMF I can use?? I'm a dyed in the wool brush painter by the way (or should that be dyed in the bristle??!!) . Back in my younger days I avoided NMF like the plague, as I always felt dear old Humbrol #11 never really dried properly. I did have some success with another Humbrol metal finish, but I can't remember the number - could it have been numbered in the 190's?? Any suggestions welcome, although I can only get Humbrol, Revell and Tamiya colours locally...….. Many thanks Martyn

I've just come across this topic, but it has a lot of interest for me. Are there any detailing kits for bomb racks/bombs for 2nd TAF Spitfire IX fighter bombers in 1:72 scale?? I'm interested because my boss's father in law (who was Polish) flew these aircraft with 308 squadron before and after D Day, and I've seen his log book which makes for interesting reading...….. Many thanks in advance! Martyn

Graham Thanks for your comments. I have to confess that the reference to the underside colour issue is in a more modern edition of Fighter Pilot I have - I had assumed it was in my older version, but having checked it isn't - so I guess this comment succumbed to the censor in the 1941 edition!! Martyn

In my much treasured 1941 edition of "Fighter Pilot" by Paul Richey (which chronicles the experiences of No.1 squadron in France in 1940) there is a paragraph at the end of Chapter 5 where it states the No.1 pilots were fed up with the black/white undersides compared with the Luftwaffe pale blue. As a result the squadron leader ordered all aircraft undersides to be painted "duck egg blue". This would seem to be sometime in early April 1940, and the chapter finishes by saying this was soon adopted on all RAF fighter aircraft. However, there are decal sets available for Paul Richey's own Hurricane ("dear old G" as he called her) which show the aircraft as having black/white undersides in May 1940.....maybe there wasn't time for a repaint, as "G" was destroyed on the ground on 11th May. I know it's "off topic" but I'd still like to understand when squadron codes became standard. There are several photos in this book from the early part of 1940 which have aircraft with just their recognition letter, and no codes...…..can anyone help?? Thanks Martyn